NYT Dictionary

RADON

/ˈɹeɪdɒn/
NounRA-donra-don · 2 syllablesGrade 11

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

The chemical element (symbol Rn, formerly Ro) with atomic number 86. It is an odorless, colorless, chemically inert but radioactive noble gas.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Latin radiusder. French radio- Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus ▲ Ancient Greek ἐνεργητῐκός (energētĭkós)sl. Latin āctīvusbor. Old French actif French actif French radio(actif) Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -iusnom. Latin -ium French radiumbor. English radiumder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰ Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰs Proto-Italic *eks Latin exder. Latin ē Proto-Indo-European *meh₂-der. Proto-Indo-European *meh₂-no-der. Latin mānō Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Latin -ereinflu. Latin -āre Latin mānāre Latin ēmānārebor. English emanate Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English -ion English emanationder. English radium emanationder. English radon Contraction of radium emanation, since the element appears in the radioactive decay of radium. By surface analysis, radio- + -on (“suffix for noble gases”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

exradioradeonradium emanationemanationnitonrnammoniaelementgasnitrogen

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 12 recorded puzzles:

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